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I have a 2003 Ford Escape (6 cyl. 4wd) with an ABS light that has come on and it is most likely related to the replacement of the front calipers. I pinched off the brake line as Eric does with a pair of Vice grips, swapped the calipers for remans, tightened everything up and bleed the front brakes using the bottle method as Eric often does. The pedal felt firm, I reinstalled the tires and after starting the car the pedal became very spongy. I drove in around the block doing some hard stops from 5, 10, 15 and so on. The brakes were making popping noises like air was still in the system, and then after a hard stop the pedal firmed up nicely but the ABS light is now on. Right now I am assuming I had air in the system and caused the abs pump to activate, causing air to become trapped in the abs and the ABS light to come on! Right now the pedal is firm and quiet. Thoughts on ABS light?
I am a DIYer and don’t think I will be able to put codes. I am almost certain the sensors were not damaged during caliper install. Hoping I don’t have to go and have the ABS pump cycled at a shop and might attempt the gravel road method to cycle the ABS pump. (as Eric did in the spongy peal video)
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Sounds like you are on track. I would bleed all four points again. How do you think air got into the system in the first place? Was something wrong with your technique the first time you did it?
Once the ABS module doesn’t find the faulty anymore it should turn off the light. The problem with the gravel road method is that if the light is on, the ABS won’t activate so that might be a problem you’ll have to address. Maybe disconnecting the battery will clear the code and allow the ABS to turn back on until it finds the faulty again.
Not certain how air was introduced if it was. I only bleed the front wheels because they were the only lines I opened. I also made sure I topped off the master so it would not run dry. I did gravity bleed them for a few seconds, tightened the bleeder and attached the bleeding tube. Do you think that I should do all 4 wheels?
The pedal feels good now too, which is strange. Going to rebleed and see if I can reset the abs light like you said. Will update later.If you don’t see any way air got in the system, and you also say that the brakes firmed up after a while it makes me think of something else.
You probably already know this but just in case…After you change brakes/calipers you have to pump the brake pedal like 5 or more times until the pistons in the calipers extend far enough to make contact with the pads and rotors. Because the pistons in a new caliper are completely retracted and you also push the pistons to the completely retracted position when you change out pads. So whenever doing work like that you always have to firm up the brake before the test drive. Is it possible the brakes where not firm at first so they actually firmed up during the test drive as you mentioned?
If they are new calipers maybe there’s an air pocket in there that is being stubborn so just try bleeding the front again. I do think it would be best to bleed all 4 if you think air got circulated through the system, but like I said maybe those brakes just needed to be firmed up and you’re bleeding was perfectly good.
ok, thanks for the explanation, makes sense. Is it common for air in the line to cause the ABS light to stay on or is it more likely that the air has reached the abs pump causing the light?
Let me ask you this first…you mentioned that the brake pedal firmed up and returned to normal. Is the ABS light still on or did it go off eventually? If it turned itself off I don’t think I’d worry about it unless it comes on again.
I think I remember you saying you didn’t damage the sensor. It’s still a good idea to give them a visual inspection. Most of them are VRS sensors so they are magnetic. If some rust fell off those old calipers and suspension and stuck to them it can throw the signal off.
As far as the ABS module goes I’m not sure whether or not it would have the ability to detect air during it’s self check. I’ve never heard of that, but I guess it could be possible.
Also check to make sure the float in your brake fluid reservoir is not stuck at the bottom. It happens all the time on my Ford when I change the fluid and such.
Yes, the pedal seems to feel good now. The abs light came on this morning on my way into work. I have not driven it since but will let you know if it stays on.or not. I will also check the float and sensors. If it comes on again I might stop by an advance auto, the guy I chatted with online said they can read abs codes; didn’t think they could be we shall see. Thanks again, I will keep you updated.
Have some good new, as of right now. When I left work the abs light was off and stayed off. They pedal still felt a bit sponger than I would like but I will attempt to bleed the front again to see if I can firm it up a bit more.
I am thinking now, the calipers may have been sitting in, similar to what you had said before. Still skeptical right now, but will let you know if there is any air in the system.
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